Sen. Evan Bayh's announcement to not seek the Senate seat has left the Democrats in a difficult position as they search for a candidate to take part in this year's election.
The Indiana senator's decision was widely unexpected, with only a day left for candidates to submit signatures for the primaries.
"It really surprised everyone in every level," Mike Uehlein, president of University Democrats, said. "And it's really going to be difficult for them because Bayh already had money to run."
College Republicans treasurer Corey Reason said without Bayh as the strong candidate, Republicans will have an advantage as Democrats work to find a replacement.
"This is a critical election cycle now that Sen. Bayh has stepped down," he said. "His decision to not run for the Senate again has created a candidacy void that was placed on a short timetable. The candidate that decides to run will not be as well funded."
Although the state party will be able to appoint a candidate, the turnout may not be what the Democrats expected, telecommunications professor Phil Bremen said.
"His dropout will probably now have lost that seat in the fall for the Democrats. That's how it would appear," he said. "It looks more like a Republican year anyway."
Bremen served as press secretary to former Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who succeeded Bayh in 1997.
Republicans have taken over a few Senate seats across the U.S. in the past months, the Massachusetts seat being the most recent.
"A lot of people are not agreeing with Democrats, and we've seen this with the elections in Massachusetts last month and the elections in Virginia and New Jersey," Reason said. "I think it's giving room for the Republicans. These elections are going to be important. They're going to need people's involvement."
Although a common reaction to Bayh's move was shock, some think the removal of a strong candidate like Bayh will have candidates from both parties depend on voter's participation.
Candidates that are not as popular will need the support of voters, Uehlein said.
"We have more of an opportunity to speak and show our support because there aren't many strong names around," he said. "It will also engage us in debate, so I'm looking forward to that."
Uehlein said students could be affected by the new senator if there is no support on grants. He said Bayh has provided tax breaks for families and has also supported an increase in Pell Grants.
Some think the support from students will be greater now that candidates on both sides will need support.
Reason said although College Republicans have a policy in which they cannot endorse a candidate before the primary elections, students will support their candidates.
"After there is a confirmed candidate, we will be able to support him and that could be by personally volunteering with the campaign," he said.
However, if the Democrats do not find a candidate of interest to the younger population, participation from the student body will be small, IUPUI political science professor Brian Vargus said.
"[State senators'] support has almost never been from young people," he said. "The excitement carried by Obama, carried by young people in 2008 will not be seen in 2010."
Vargus said Bayh did not have as much support from the college student body in the first place.
"For Bayh, some thought he was too conservative. He was not a jazzy politician," he said.
But Reason said he expects a bigger turnout from the student body.
"It goes back to the ‘08 election. There was a wide sweeping changing power with President Obama," he said.
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